"Lost" in Rock N' Roll: Review of Sean McCole's New Single

Few contemporary rockers have a take on music like Sean does. Not to say he is the ultimate and everyone else sucks, he just has this masterful niche when it comes to blending the best elements of 90s pop rock/grunge with his own synergistic flare. A multi-instrumentalist hailing from Chicago, Sean currently resides and roams along the California coast (more specifically the LA and surrounding area). His new single, “Lost,” released on November 5th, displays a brisk popiness that is molded around a driving, hypno-rock groove.

Sean’s voice has a distinctly alternative resonance, caramelized by smooth alto hues. He seems to be speaking to a friend (or perhaps an old self, ex-love?) and carries the lyrics wistfully over an ocean of instrumentation. Neat little dazzles like the distorted triplets just after the chorus are added to the upbeat, bass-ladened rock that may seem small upon first listen, but the more you cycle through it the more you notice subtleties that really energize the track.

Elements like vocal echoes and leveling up the claps of the drum parts to flare out with the swinginess of the strings that culminate in the last half of the song. All leading to an acoustic glimpse of the chorus before a drum fill rings in one last blast of pure rock pulsation. To then end abruptly with a declarative staccato. Cliff hanging your ears.

Whether this is a stand alone single or a sneak peek into any number of tracks that may wind up amassing a new EP (or LP), it certainly fits Sean’s pinnacle style. Stirred together with soundscapes that probably inspired him most can be heard throughout (sinews that have a real Red Hot Chili Peppers meets a slightly-lighter take on Monster Magnet) but that does not mean Sean is a mere copycat resurgence of the best sounds he more than likely grew up with. No, no, no.

“Lost” is only further proof that Sean is not simply compelled by rock n’ roll, he is one with it.

You can find the single on Spotify, YouTube, or Amazon Music

& can follow Sean on Facebook or Instagram!

*photos sourced from Google and SoundCloud, respectively*